As you approach the jump point, Darien pulls out his datapad, Ah, I've got a response from Green. He quickly scans through the information and grunts, Not a lot of info, I'm afraid. There is at least one pirate group in the area, mostly raiding refugee ships heading to Abregado-rae and abducting passengers, but also occasionally raiding shipping. They haven't actually taken any ships, which is unusual. General bounty of 1,000 credits for pirate captains, dead-or-alive. Information leading to the location of their main base to be rewarded with 3,000 credits.

What do you think?

Kara checks the readout from the navicompter, then turns to Darien. Let's do it.

Cade looked over at Falmok as they leaned into the cockpit, Whatcha think Vhal'ika, you up for some pirate hunting?

Falmok grinned, Oya, let's go hunting.

_________________________

2 hours later, the ship exits hyperspace near the planet and instantly, Kara notices that something is wrong. The planetary defense force's corvettes are in battle formation and headed out away from your current position. A couple starfighters break off and begin to approach your ship. Unidentified vessel, identify yourself.

Kara keys the transmitter. Planetary Control, this is Mesh'la Solus we are contractors for Tipping Point Contracting Agency, whats all the excitement?

Another pirate raid! They're hitting the refugee ships. Stay clear, we cannot guarantee your safety.

Understood Control, give them haran .. Kara keyed off. What's the plan, vode?

I think we see where they run when they have enough Cade suggested.

Darien nodded in agreement, See if you can get us over the combat area, so we can calculate the exit vectors.

Kara nodded, Sounds like a plan. As she pulls the controls to begin the clime

As Kara pushes the ship forward, Mesh'la Solus accelerates past the much slower corvettes and rapidly approaches the now-visible pirate vessels: a couple Gozantis and a Marauder-class corvette are docked with the three AA-9 transports, but are beginning to undock and one Gozanti is already starting to break away. As you enter their range, a couple warning shots zip past you, the meaning clear, STAY AWAY.

Do you get hit? : 1eC 1 failure, 1 threat

you're fine, you don't get hit

Kara eased the ship just outside of the canons range, but still probing for blind spots in their coverage.

Hold on to your shebs vode, I'm going in for intel flyby. Kara accelerated and maneuvered through the pirate formation, trying to get close enough so the sensors can record data, dodging incoming fire from the pirates.

As Mesh'la Solus flies in again, Darien says, Pull back, this flak is too thick! We won't be able to slip through. Kara realizes this is true as a couple shots glance off the shields.

The first Gozanti enters hyperspace as the other ships are now undocked and starting to warm up their hyperdrives...

Kara swore and made another attempt, swerving around incoming fire, getting as close as she could so the sensors had the best chance of picking up data. Whoa! Cade exclaimed, as the ships started their jump. Hey, one of those had a circular mark on it, I couldn't any details though..

The computer pinged at Kara, Got their trajectory, system called Belgaroth , roughly two hours away.

Did you get an estimate of their hyperdrives? Will we arrive after them? Darien asked.

Kara shook her head, Not with this sensor package. I can adjust our speed, so in theory , we would arrive ten minutes later.. should give them enough time to arrive and move away from the exit point. Hopefully not so far that we can't pick them up visually .

How do you plan on seeing them? Cade asked.

Look for three sets of engines moving across the star-field.. Kara shrugged. Their engines might leave a trail we can follow before solar winds wash them into background radiation..

A light starts blinking on the auxiliary console and Darien speaks up, We're being hailed. I'll put 'em on. A commanding voice comes over the loudspeaker, This is Roth Espio of the Sector Rangers. You are interfering in an ongoing investigation. You are ordered to shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded.

Osik. Kara swore.. Make a run for it, or hope for the best?

I'd rather not get shot at Kar'ika, Cade said. Or have Law Enforcement chasing us as we do this job... Darien?

They aren't shooting at us, and I'd rather keep it that way. We weren't doing anything wrong, so he'll probably just question us and let us go about our business.

Hope so... Kara says as she powers down the engines. She keyed the transmitter, Roth Espio, this Mesh'la Solus , Complying, powering down and standing by.

A few minutes later, as one of the Consular-class corvettes pulls up alongside, you hear a sharp clang as the docking tube locks into place. There is a loud knock on the door to your ship, Republic Judicial Forces, open up.

Darien cycles the airlock and opens the hatch, stepping away with his arms away from his sides, making sure he didn't look threatening.. beyond being a Mandalorian.. Welcome aboard.

Four red-shirt judicials come through the door with their weapons raised, but seeing that there is no threat, lower their weapons, All clear, sir. In through the door strides a tall human in a well-fit uniform with the Sector Ranger badge displayed prominently on his chest. Who are you and what the kriff were you doing in this area? You flew into a combat zone and my men had to check their fire to avoid hitting you! I'm guessing you are no friend of theirs, but that doesn't mean you're a friend of ours. Particularly after that stunt you pulled.

Sorry about that, Darien apologized. We were hired to find and rescue a pair of younglings by the father of one of them. We saw an opportunity, and seized it.

If it would help, one of my colleagues is transferring our sensor data to a data disk for you. Darien offered, indicating the cockpit with a tilt of his head. And we could offer our services to assist in this mater.

He perks up at this, I'll need to see your credentials, but w hat sort of sensor data? And how would you assist?

I can provide contact information to our contact with Tipping Point, Darien offered, indicating a pouch on his belt. We managed to get their jump telemetry. As for our assistance, whatever you are comfortable paying us for; intelligence gathering, target elimination, we offer a wide range of services.

Hmm... Where did the jump telemetry point to?

Belgaroth. My pilot hopes that their ion trail is intact enough to follow to their base by the time we arrive.

Very well, I'll hire you to go ahead as reconnaissance. Scout out their forces and see if you can find their base, then contact us and we'll do the rest. I'll pay you the 3,000 credit reward for locating their base, but you are doing more than that. What fee do you require?

Darien grinned behind his helmet. Oh, we absolutely plan on doing more. But if we are able, we'll do some pathfinder work for you, asset denial, neutralization of key personnel like leadership. Are you authorized to issue bonuses for these services? If so, we hear there's a DoA bounty of Pirate captains of 1k per, for assets like ship neutralization, we'd like 10k per at a minimum. With those done, you should have no trouble clearing them out.

Darien held up a finger, like thinking of one more item. If by some miracle we are able to secure a ship to transport any captives, we need a pass code, so you don't shoot us out of the air.. And we would like to keep it, if possible. Darien held up his hands and gave a little shrug, That very last bit is up to you of course, but if that is acceptable, we would of course require a title and transponder scrub on it.